ZIP code
08701
in Lakewood, New JerseyPopulation 139,149
50.10/ 100
Ranked #16,097 of 32,066 US ZIPs (bottom 50%)
Ranked #524 of 583 New Jersey ZIPs (bottom 10.2%)
Ranked #787 of 853 New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ ZIPs (bottom 7.8%)
Ranks are modeled estimates — ZIPs a few hundred places apart are effectively tied.
What defines this ZIP
Metrics where this ZIP sits in the tails of the national distribution — the ones that most set it apart. Select any tile for its definition and methodology.
Natural-disaster risk
in the top 0.2% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS99thDefinition & source ›
This area’s national rank on its single highest non-flood natural hazard — such as wildfire, tornado, or earthquake — in FEMA’s modeled National Risk Index; flooding is shown separately.
Full methodology ›Housing-cost burden
51.5%
in the top 2.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST95thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of households spending 30% or more of their income on housing.
Full methodology ›Crowded housing
11.9%
in the top 3.5% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST97thUS97thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes with more than one person per room, the Census definition of crowded housing.
Full methodology ›Home broadband subscription
70.7%
in the bottom 6.5% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST1stUS6thDefinition & source ›
The share of households with a broadband internet subscription.
Full methodology ›PFOA in drinking water
94.5%
in the top 6.7% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST52ndUS93rdDefinition & source ›
The share of residents served by public water systems where PFOA, one of the man-made “forever chemicals,” was detected in EPA testing.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Expected annual disaster loss
$0
in the top 6.8% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST99thUS93rdDefinition & source ›
FEMA’s modeled estimate, in dollars per year, of the average harm to people expected from natural hazards — an annualized average, not a forecast for any single year.
Full methodology ›Lithium in drinking water
10 µg/L
in the bottom 8.4% nationally
Lower is healthier
ST18thUS8thDefinition & source ›
The average detected level of lithium — a natural trace metal with no federal drinking-water limit yet — across the public water systems serving this ZIP, in micrograms per liter.
Measured from EPA records for the public water systems that serve this ZIP. Households on private wells — roughly 30% of the US population — are not covered by this measure, and this figure says nothing about their water.
Full methodology ›Distance to a Superfund site
1.4 mi
in the bottom 8.6% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST41stUS9thDefinition & source ›
The distance in miles from this ZIP’s edge to the nearest Superfund site — an abandoned or uncontrolled hazardous-waste site the EPA has listed for cleanup.
Full methodology ›Homeownership rate
51.5%
in the bottom 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST16thUS10thDefinition & source ›
The share of occupied homes that are owned, rather than rented, by the people living in them.
Full methodology ›Subsidized affordable housing
249 units
in the top 10.0% nationally
Higher is healthier
ST87thUS90thDefinition & source ›
The number of affordable rental units in this ZIP supported by the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program.
Full methodology ›The read
In overall standing, Lakewood, New Jersey (ZIP 08701) comes out in the bottom 50% nationally (16,097th) and the bottom 10.2% of New Jersey (524th).
The data points to real strain across a number of measures here: modeled disaster risk registers in the top 0.2% nationally, housing-cost burden stands in the top 2.7% nationally, and crowded housing lands in the top 3.5% nationally. Home broadband subscription is in the bottom 6.5% nationally, PFOA in drinking water resides in the top 6.7% nationally, and modeled expected annual loss rests in the top 6.8% nationally. Distance to a Superfund site lies in the bottom 8.6% nationally, and homeownership sits in the bottom 10.0% nationally. On the brighter side, distance to an emergency room settles at the national minimum, shared with about 11% of ZIPs. Lithium in drinking water registers in the bottom 8.4% nationally.
Relative to the ZIPs around it, park land runs far lower than the surrounding ZIPs on this measure. In plain terms, disaster risk is the area's national rank on its highest non-flood peril in FEMA's modeled Risk Index, like wildfire or quake. PFOA in drinking water is one of the man-made "forever chemicals" that build up in the body and environment instead of breaking down. Expected annual loss is FEMA's modeled estimate, in dollars, of average yearly harm to people from natural hazards. The nearest healthier ZIP overall is ZIP 07731, just across the boundary.
What’s driving this score
Nine domains make up the ZipVitals Score — here is how this ZIP does on each, and how much each one counts. Compare it against the US, this state and the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ metro area.
Compared with the ZIP codes measured across all nine scoring domains — not with all US ZIP codes.
Lifting this score
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 82%
21%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 77%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
About typical
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 59%
14%
Mental Health
healthier than 47%
8%
Disability
healthier than 48%
7%
Holding it back
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 17%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 9%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 21%
11%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 82%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 39%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 8%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 7%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 11%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 1.0%
8%
Disability
healthier than 10%
7%
Lifting this score
Environmental Hazard
healthier than 79%
14%
Climate / Disaster Risk
healthier than 63%
5%
Healthcare Access
in the top 0.00%
5%
Holding it back
Chronic Disease Burden
healthier than 32%
21%
Social Need / SDOH
healthier than 14%
16%
Preventive Care
healthier than 4%
13%
Risk Behavior
healthier than 10%
11%
Mental Health
in the bottom 0.7%
8%
Disability
healthier than 12%
7%
“Share” is how much of this ZIP’s score the domain accounts for. Percentages are rounded; higher is healthier in every domain. How the score works, and who it compares you with ›
Findings that name this ZIP
One of our published findings lists this ZIP code. Each finding compares one published measure against a stated benchmark, and names only the ZIP codes whose estimates are reliable enough to rank. See all surprising findings.
Below its nearby ZIPs
The ZIP codes that outlive their neighbors
Estimated life expectancy is 77.7 ± 1.0 years. The 44 nearest ZIP codes with estimates average 80.1 years — 2.4 years below them.
Ranked #1,882 of the 3,687 ZIP codes this finding names, ordered by years above the nearby-ZIP average, highest first.
Nearby & similar ZIPs
Editorially selected — see how this ZIP compares to nearby and similar places.
Nearby
07731
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 64.79
Closest healthier
08527
New Jerseyshares a border
Score 60.76
Similar health profile
91303
California94% similar profile
Score 51.27
How these were chosen: only ZIPs with a published Score appear — a nearby ZIP with too little data to score won’t. Nearby means closest by distance between ZIP boundaries, which can cross state lines. A similar health profile is a close match across the nine Score domains, not similar demographics. Distances are measured between ZIP boundaries — ZIPs that touch share a border. How distance is measured
Evidence
Every measure this page draws on, by source. Collapsed by default — the full data stays in the page for search engines either way.
Health OutcomesCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Arthritis among adults | 22.4% | 20.5–24.3 |
| High blood pressure among adults | 28.9% | 26.5–31.4 |
| Cancer (non-skin) or melanoma among adults | 6.3% | 5.7–6.9 |
| Current asthma among adults | 10.0% | 8.9–11.1 |
| Coronary heart disease among adults | 5.6% | 5.1–6.1 |
| Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease among adults | 6.6% | 6.0–7.3 |
| Depression among adults | 19.3% | 16.9–21.9 |
| Diagnosed diabetes among adults | 9.7% | 8.6–10.8 |
| High cholesterol among adults who have ever been screened | 35.2% | 32.4–38.0 |
| Obesity among adults | 32.6% | 28.6–36.9 |
| Stroke among adults | 3.1% | 2.9–3.3 |
| All teeth lost among adults aged >=65 years | 16.3% | 13.5–19.3 |
PreventionCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Current lack of health insurance among adults aged 18-64 years | 14.3% | 12.6–16.2 |
| Taking medicine to control high blood pressure among adults with high blood pressure | 71.3% | 68.8–73.6 |
| Visits to doctor for routine checkup within the past year among adults | 72.1% | 68.9–75.2 |
| Cholesterol screening among adults | 80.8% | 78.7–82.9 |
| Colorectal cancer screening among adults aged 45–75 years | 59.0% | 54.7–63.3 |
| Visited dentist or dental clinic in the past year among adults | 56.2% | 52.9–59.4 |
| Mammography use among women aged 50-74 years | 73.3% | 66.8–79.3 |
Health Risk BehaviorsCDC PLACES 2022 / 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Binge drinking among adults | 16.8% | 14.5–19.5 |
| Current cigarette smoking among adults | 16.8% | 14.9–18.9 |
| No leisure-time physical activity among adults | 28.8% | 25.8–32.0 |
| Short sleep duration among adults | 39.3% | 34.9–43.8 |
Health StatusCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Fair or poor self-rated health status among adults | 20.6% | 18.5–22.8 |
| Frequent mental distress among adults | 19.8% | 17.9–21.9 |
| Frequent physical distress among adults | 14.4% | 13.0–15.9 |
DisabilityCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive disability among adults | 16.9% | 15.2–18.7 |
| Any disability among adults | 30.4% | 27.5–33.5 |
| Hearing disability among adults | 6.3% | 5.6–7.0 |
| Independent living disability among adults | 10.0% | 9.0–11.1 |
| Mobility disability among adults | 12.1% | 10.8–13.5 |
| Self-care disability among adults | 4.1% | 3.8–4.5 |
| Vision disability among adults | 6.2% | 5.7–6.7 |
Health-Related Social NeedsCDC PLACES 2023 · BRFSS
| Measure | Crude prevalence | 95% CI |
|---|---|---|
| Lack of social and emotional support among adults | 23.5% | 20.7–26.3 |
| Food insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 21.2% | 18.7–23.8 |
| Received food stamps in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 14.1–18.3 |
| Housing insecurity in the past 12 months among adults | 16.2% | 14.3–18.2 |
| Lack of reliable transportation in the past 12 months among adults | 11.8% | 10.5–13.2 |
| Loneliness among adults | 33.3% | 29.7–36.9 |
| Utility services shut-off threat in the past 12 months among adults | 11.0% | 9.7–12.5 |
Community & economyCensus ACS 5-Year · 2024 release · observed
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poverty rate | 24.8% | 10.6% (3.1–25.8%) n=32,364 | 5.8% (1.8–16.1%) n=588 |
| Uninsured 18–64 | 9.5% | 9.0% (1.5–24.3%) n=32,286 | 5.6% (1.2–16.1%) n=585 |
| No HS diploma (25+) | 9.5% | 7.9% (1.8–20.7%) n=32,505 | 5.3% (1.4–15.4%) n=589 |
| Bachelor's or higher (25+) | 33.8% | 23.3% (9.2–53.6%) n=32,505 | 44.2% (20.0–72.5%) n=589 |
| Unemployment rate (16+) | 5.8% | 3.9% (0.0–9.8%) n=32,274 | 5.3% (2.5–9.7%) n=583 |
| Households without a vehicle | 8.7% | 3.9% (0.0–12.5%) n=32,322 | 4.8% (0.8–17.6%) n=585 |
| Broadband subscription | 70.7% | 89.3% (75.1–97.1%) n=32,322 | 94.4% (88.0–98.5%) n=585 |
| Housing cost burden (≥30% income) | 51.5% | 23.7% (10.6–40.0%) n=32,322 | 31.7% (22.1–46.5%) n=585 |
| Homeownership rate | 51.5% | 78.7% (51.7–94.0%) n=32,322 | 77.5% (39.3–94.9%) n=585 |
| Crowded housing (>1 per room) | 11.9% | 1.3% (0.0–6.3%) n=32,322 | 1.4% (0.0–7.4%) n=585 |
| Foreign-born population | 8.6% | 2.6% (0.0–18.6%) n=32,553 | 13.7% (3.3–39.5%) n=590 |
| Single-parent households | 24.2% | 53.6% (37.3–74.1%) n=32,087 | 49.6% (35.2–64.9%) n=581 |
| Population 65+ | 9.0% | 19.4% (10.8–33.6%) n=32,553 | 17.8% (11.7–27.5%) n=590 |
| Median age | 18.2 yr | 42.2 yr (33.0–56.3) n=32,292 | 42.0 yr (35.6–51.8) n=582 |
| Median household income | $64,959 | $72,070 ($46,039–$118,707) n=30,318 | $111,711 ($68,311–$188,075) n=565 |
| Median home value | $466,100 | $222,200 ($100,300–$579,820) n=30,049 | $449,450 ($250,890–$845,440) n=564 |
| Median gross rent | $1,774 | $1,021 ($677–$1,912) n=25,670 | $1,781 ($1,267–$2,530) n=516 |
Life expectancyNCHS / RWJF USALEEP · model-based
| Measure | Value | US median (p10–p90) | NJ median (p10–p90) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life expectancy at birth | 77.7 yr ± 0.49 | 78.9 yr (74.7–82.8) n=31,308 | 80.4 yr (76.6–83.7) n=571 |
About the ± — it’s this estimate’s give-or-take (statisticians call it the standard error). The true life expectancy for this ZIP most likely falls within 0.49 years of 77.7, and it’s very unlikely to be off by more than twice that.
More ZIPs to explore ▾More ZIPs to explore ▴
How these lists were built: they draw only from ZIPs that have a published Score, so ZIPs with too little data to score are not listed. Distance-based lists use distance between ZIP boundaries with no state filter, so an out-of-state ZIP can appear. Statistically similar means a close match across the nine Score domains, not a demographic match: the measure is the cosine similarity between two ZIPs’ domain scores, taken over the domains both ZIPs have data for and only where that overlap covers at least six of the nine — and where no ZIP clears that minimum-overlap floor, that list is left out rather than filled with a weak match. How distance is measured